Congressman Panetta Announces $20 Million CARES Act Grant for Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District
SALINAS, CA – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) announced that the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (METRO) received a federal grant totaling $20,560,417 to help respond to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The funding for this grant is from the recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which directs the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to allocate funding to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus through the existing Urbanized Area Formula Grants Program.
These funds may be used for the operating expenses of transit agencies related to the response to coronavirus, including reimbursement for operating costs to maintain service, lost revenue, the purchase of personal protective equipment, and paying the administrative leave of operations personnel due to reductions in service.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on public transit ridership and infrastructure across the Central Coast," said Congressman Panetta. "This CARES Act grant will help the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (METRO) support agency operations and purchase personal protective equipment to keep its essential workers and valuable customers safe. Such grants can preserve good-paying jobs and ensure that families and workers are safe as they endure the pandemic and eventually return to work and school."
"Like many transit agencies across the country, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused METRO to experiences significant revenue losses such as, local sales tax revenue, farebox revenue, and state funding. Responsively, thanks to Congressman Panetta's support of transit, METRO has been awarded funds from the CARES Act. This CARES Act will pay for FTA qualifying METRO expenses going back to January 20, 2020 to offset lost revenue sources for the short-term. Thankfully due to the CARES Act, METRO will be able to remain stable for the next few months, avoiding (for now) major service reductions and layoffs/furloughs. The CARES Act will help METRO continue to provide a critical lifeline to essential workers, essential travel, and to help our communities rebuild our economy," said Mike Rotkin, METRO Board Chair.
The Urbanized Area Formula Funding program makes federal resources available to urbanized areas and to governors for transit capital and operating assistance in urbanized areas and for transportation-related planning. An urbanized area is an incorporated area with a population of 50,000 or more that is designated as such by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.